HISTORY
The Asagi-iro haori (part 1)
Together with the Makoto banner, the haori coloured with distinguishing asagi-iro, or light blue, is the Shinsengumi’s iconic feature. Weeks before the official appointment as Mibu Rōshigumi, members had been dressed in ragged clothes upon arrival to the Yagi Residence and were absolutely impoverished, as recalled by Yagi Tamesaburo.
In the making of a representative haori, Serizawa Kamo took the reference of Akō jiken in 1701 of which daimyo Asano Naganori was framed by Kira Yoshinaka. The former, in a deteriorating relationship with the latter, attempted to kill him in vain. Subsequently Asano Naganori was sentenced to commit seppuku whereas his antagonist was pardoned. Ōishi Kuranosuke Yoshio, Asano’s main counsellor, plotted the vendetta upon summoning forty-six rōnins, assassinating Kira Yoshinaka at his residence. On the night of vendetta, they were dressed in black haori with white mountain-shaped stripes at the base of their sleeves, a prototype of the Shinsengumi’s uniform thereafter. All forty-six rōnins, together with Ōishi Kuranosuke Yoshio, were ordered seppuku for the crimes committed out of personal enmity.
However, this was an honourable sentence in those times in Japan, and Akō jiken became legendary in representing loyalty and faith towards the lord, and the sacrifice of one’s life by samurai to safeguard the reputation and justice. Given its popularity, the story was adapted into the Forty-Seven Rōnin in 2013 by Hollywood. For the haori design, it is said that Serizawa Kamo was proud of quoting Akō jiken for the adoption in his capacity of a samurai. However in the Shinsengumi! taiga drama, Kondō Isami’ image and authority among audiences was depicted as the initiator of the reference for the building’s sake, while the use of asagi-iro was suggested by Oume, Serizawa Kamo’s lover.
The revenge history of the forty-seven rōnin is considered a legend in Japan and has been regularly adapted into various art forms of visual arts and drama including woodblock prints, literature, bunraku puppet, opera, films and television series.
Asagi-iro is one of Japan’s traditional colours. Generally, the colours’ names originate either from plants, flowers or animals, and asagi-iro is a light greenish blue resembling scallion leaves. In the old days of Japan, during the ritual, the samurai committing seppuku would wear an asagi-iro kamishimo, or a traditional ceremonial kimono. Thus the colour, in the samurai’s eyes, well-characterizes an honourable death. In this respect, the Shinsengumi haori coloured asagi-iro was a wise choice to remind the members to fight in battle with dignity and to their death for the lord.
English 
Chinese